BY DR. AUGUSTIN DUKUZE
RUD-URUNANA
SPOKESPERSON
As the elections come to an end, the outcome was not in doubt for the Rwandan people as well as for many independent observers. From the outset, our rganization has continued to bring to the attention of our fellow Rwandans and the members of the International Community the bogus character of a such consultation that was everything else but democratic.
While the supporters of the regime are lauding Paul Kagame’s Stalinist score, they are turning a blind eye on all the irregularities that have marred this process. In addition to have systematically sidelined, threatened, jailed, and/or killed his most prominent opponents, Kagame’s regime resulted to intimidation and coercion of ordinary Rwandan citizens in order to secure a second term. Hence, there are reports stating that in the rural areas, Kagame’s operatives canvassed the country side at dawn forcing the electorate to go to the polling stations where the RPF handlers would make sure that their candidate is elected before foreign election observers showed up. In addition, the fact the national electoral commission was under the thumb of the Kagame’s cronies, it has made Rwandans and several observers to question the make-up of the electoral lists.
As our organization has consistently denounced the climate of fear, terrorr aans ssassination, and repression that is prevalent in the country mainly against those suspected of dissent or of opposing opinions to those of the regime, it is evident that these polls were neither free nor fair. Therefore, the blatant denial of a basic democratic right such as casting one’s vote to one’s choosing and preference, this late exercise has left a soar taste and frustration among the Rwandan electorate despite what the supporters and handlers of the Kagame’s regime want us to believe. Despite the regime degree of sophistication in rigging the votes, this is similar to what happened in 2003 elections as in a recent interview one of the Kagame’s former closest aides has publicly acknowledged. It is our opinion that our decision to neither participate nor support any candidates in these sham elections has been vindicated.
Hence, our organization would like to inform the Rwandan people and the International Community that these 2010 presidential elections were far from meeting in any shape or form the standards of free and fair democratic consultations. Therefore, RUD-Urunana does not recognize the outcome of these elections since the process was from the start flawed, rigged, and skewed in favor of Kagame and his cronies. We would like to call upon the rwandan people and the International Community to strongly denounce such mascaraed process and to take appropriate actions in denouncing and isolating the perpetuation of Kagame’s dictatorial regime.
Our organization calls upon the rwandan government for an immediate and unconditional release of all the political prisoners as well as innocent citizens who have been languishing in prison for years. Independent observers have indicated that, based on political unfairness and exclusion that have transpired during this process, it is evident that the country is sitting on a time bomb ready to go off any time.
Therefore, it is imperative that the regime engages without undue delay with the rwandan opposition to search common grounds that would spare our country another tragedy.
As our organization has always pointed out, the Rwandan problem is political in nature and requires political solutions. In order to build a genuine democratic society in our homeland, the root causes of the rampant political instability must be genuinely and fairly addressed. It is our firm conviction that as long as the underlying causes of the Rwandan political problem would not be tackled, the seeds of instability and devastation will always be lurking in Rwanda as well as in the region.
In order to foster a reconciliatory Justice system, the only foundation of genuine Reconciliation, we urgently ask to hold, under the auspices of the International Community, an Inter-Rwandan Dialogue. In addition, our organization calls for the organization of a "Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation" Commission in our homeland that would help heal a traumatized society.
Our organization remains convinced that only this Dialogue would lead to lasting peace, stability, and the foundation of a truly democratic system in which new political, judiciary, and security institutions would be the reflection of the legitimate aspirations of all the constitutive groups of the Rwandan society.
August 10, 2010
DR. AUGUSTIN DUKUZE
RUD-URUNANA
SPOKESPERSON
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